MY ALPHA DADDY

The night I learned monsters were real, I was only trying to get home before the moon rose too high. The elders of the village always warned us about nights like this—when the moon swelled large and red, heavy in the sky like it was watching. They said the forest belonged to something else after dark. That humans were guests during the day and prey at night. I had laughed at those stories. Now, as the last light drained from the sky and the forest path stretched ahead of me like a mouth waiting to swallow me whole, I wasn’t laughing anymore. My boots crunched against dry leaves as I hurried forward, clutching the grocery bag tight against my chest. The shortcut through the woods had always saved time, and I’d walked it hundreds of times. But tonight, everything felt… wrong. Too quiet. No insects chirped. No birds called. Even the wind had stilled, as though the forest itself was holding its breath. My heart began to race. Stop being stupid, I told myself. You’re just tired. Still, my grip tightened around the bag. The moonlight filtering through the trees painted long, twisted shadows across the path, and every one of them looked like it could move if I looked away for too long. That was when I smelled it. Blood. It hit me so suddenly I stumbled to a stop. The scent was thick and coppery, clinging to the air like fog. This wasn’t a small injury. This was violence. I swallowed hard. A low sound drifted through the trees—a growl that vibrated through the ground and straight into my bones. It wasn’t like any animal sound I’d ever heard. It carried intelligence. Intent. Fear wrapped icy fingers around my spine. Run, my instincts screamed. Instead, my feet carried me forward. The bushes exploded outward without warning. Something massive burst into the clearing, claws ripping through soil and roots as it landed heavily on all fours. The grocery bag slipped from my numb fingers, cans spilling and rolling uselessly across the ground. I couldn’t breathe. The creature before me was a wolf—but calling it that felt wrong. It was enormous, easily taller than me even on all fours, its body rippling with muscle beneath thick black fur streaked with silver. Moonlight glinted off sharp fangs as long as my fingers. Its eyes locked onto mine. Gold. Molten. Alive. Predator. I was prey. My legs refused to move as the beast stalked toward me, its steps slow and deliberate. Each one felt like a countdown to my death. I could hear its breathing—deep and controlled, like it wasn’t even exerting itself. Hot tears blurred my vision. “P-please…” I whispered, though I wasn’t sure who—or what—I was begging. The wolf suddenly stopped. Its head snapped up, nostrils flaring as it scented the air. Its body went rigid, like it had been struck by lightning. Then it looked at me again. This time, there was no hunger in its gaze. Only shock. A strange sound rumbled from its chest, rough and broken, and before I could react, the creature convulsed violently. I screamed as its body twisted unnaturally, bones cracking with sickening pops. Fur receded. Limbs stretched and reshaped. I squeezed my eyes shut, sobbing, certain my mind had finally snapped. When the sounds stopped, silence crashed down like a wave. I forced myself to look. A man stood where the monster had been. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Bare-chested, skin glowing faintly under the moonlight as though it belonged to the night itself. Dark hair fell across sharp features carved from shadow and steel. But it was his eyes that froze me in place. Gold. Still gold. I staggered back, shaking. “W-what are you?” I whispered. The man’s jaw tightened. His gaze dropped to my wrist, then slowly lifted to my face. Something dark flickered across his expression—fear, disbelief, and something far more dangerous. “No,” he said quietly. “This cannot be happening.” I turned to run. I didn’t make it three steps. In a blur of movement, he appeared in front of me, blocking my path. I crashed into his chest—solid, unyielding—and cried out as strong hands closed around my arms. Not rough, but firm, like he was afraid I might disappear. “Don’t,” he commanded softly. “If you run, you will die.” My chest heaved. “Please… I won’t tell anyone. I swear. I didn’t see anything.” His grip loosened slightly, though his eyes never left my face. “That isn’t why I stopped you.” My heart thundered painfully. “Then why?” The forest seemed to lean closer, shadows pressing in as though listening. “Because the moon chose you,” he said. I shook my head. “I don’t understand.” “You shouldn’t,” he muttered. “You’re human.” His gaze dropped to me again, sharper now, as though he were seeing me for the first time. “And yet your scent says otherwise.” Cold dread curled in my stomach. “I’m just a villager. I don’t belong to… whatever you are.” His jaw clenched. “That’s the problem.” Before I could react, he grabbed my wrist. Pain exploded as his teeth sank into my skin. I screamed. Fire raced through my veins, white-hot and unforgiving. I collapsed to my knees, clutching my arm as the man pulled back instantly, staring at my bleeding wrist in horror. The pain didn’t fade. Instead, the wound glowed faintly silver beneath the moonlight. The man staggered back like he’d been struck. “You’re alive,” he breathed. My vision blurred. “W-what did you do to me?” His voice was rough. “I marked you.” Terror clawed up my throat. “You said I’d die.” “I was supposed to,” he admitted. “Humans don’t survive an Alpha’s bite.” The howls began then—long and echoing, rising from deep within the forest. One by one, they joined together until the night vibrated with their song. The man’s shoulders stiffened. “They’ve felt it,” he said quietly. “The bond.” I tried to stand, but my legs buckled. Before I could fall, he caught me, pulling me against his chest. Heat radiated from him, steady and dangerous. “Let me go,” I whispered weakly. “I can’t,” he said. “Not anymore.” His arms tightened, not possessive—but protective. “I am Alpha Kael of the Nightfang Pack,” he said, voice carrying the weight of command and curse alike. “And by every wolf law written under the moon…” He looked down at me, gold eyes burning. “You are my mate.” Somewhere, wolves began to howl—closer, louder, and I knew… not all of them would approve.